# Wife and Traffic **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 13, 2012, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-and-traffic/628155 "2012-07-13T23:27:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-and-traffic/628155/41 "2012-07-15T14:23:10Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > You couldn’t have done better with that. It was very funny! Don’t mind the folks who are quick to post but slow to read. I have been meaning to tell you for quite some time now how you are my favorite poster on the board. And I do ever so love muffins! ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-and-traffic/628155/42 "2012-07-15T14:24:27Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > I hate that behavior too. I had to ask my wife to stop asking my opinion if she had no intention of taking it. I don’t expect her to do what I say, but there were many times when she wouldn’t event take it into consideration. > > She’d ask “Should I do A or B?” I would answer something like “B wouldn’t work at all. You’ll have problems X, Y, and Z. A will work out much better.” She’d immediately say, “I think I’ll do A”. This example makes it sound like she _did_ take your opinion. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-and-traffic/628155/43 "2012-07-15T14:47:07Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > This example makes it sound like she _did_ take your opinion. > > 😕 Ha! You’re right. I was reliving the frustration and mistyped A when I meant B. I meant she’d pick the exact opposite of what I said even when I was totally emphatic about what the better choice was. Even when I wasn’t totally emphatic about which I thought was better, she would rarely take my advice. It was frustrating since I’m a problem solver and would take the effort to consider the pros and cons of the choices and I felt like that wasn’t valued or appreciated. She was just looking for validation for her decision. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-and-traffic/628155/44 "2012-07-15T15:00:32Z")
is there ice cream melting in the car? if not them it doesn’t matter. she should have a car she likes to be in. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-and-traffic/628155/45 "2012-07-15T15:01:42Z")
See…this where you screwed up. You tell her the opposite of what you think is the right thing to do. Then see if she always does the opposite (which is what you really want her to do). Seriously, some people are just like that. We had a boss like that. Once we figured out the pattern things went much more smoothly. Especially because if he picked the stupid way (which is what he almost always did) it made our jobs much harder. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-and-traffic/628155/46 "2012-07-15T15:22:57Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > I’m a problem solver and would take the effort to consider the pros and cons of the choices and I felt like that wasn’t valued or appreciated. She was just looking for validation for her decision. OK, that makes sense. That would drive me batty too. Have you ever come right out and asked her “Bitch, why do you insist on asking my advice when you never take it? I’m gonna pimp-slap you, ho!” Or, perhaps a calmer, more carefully-worded question would get better results. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-and-traffic/628155/47 "2012-07-15T15:30:30Z")
Maybe she’s not stuck in traffic - maybe she’s “stuck in traffic”, nudge, nudge, wink-wink, say no more! ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-and-traffic/628155/48 "2012-07-15T15:33:58Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Maybe she’s not stuck in traffic - maybe she’s “stuck in traffic”, nudge, nudge, wink-wink, say no more! Just…“having coffee with the girls”? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-and-traffic/628155/49 "2012-07-16T17:01:45Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Oh please. Some of us are capable of multitasking just fine. In fact, I’m posting this on my iPhone from the car rig I think it would have been funnier if you had ended it with, “AAAAAAAAaaaaaaa…” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-and-traffic/628155/50 "2012-07-16T17:45:47Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Exactly. > > I don’t think i’ve ever complained about my wife here, but if i did, it would be precisely so that i could vent to strangers about some minor issue that irritates me, but that’s not worth getting into an argument about. > > We have (what i believe is) a great marriage, but we still occasionally annoy or frustrate one another with certain habits. My wife doesn’t like the way i lose my temper and swear at inanimate objects like computers and DVD players when they don’t work properly. I sometimes get annoyed at her tendency to start getting ready at the last minute when we’re going out. Neither of these is anything like a deal-breaker in our relationship, and we generally live with them. But i could see myself, on an evening when my wife was still getting ready ten minutes after we were supposed to leave, sitting down at the computer to complain about it on the Dope. > > Big fucking deal. Your marriage may be shakier than you think. Swearing is basically domestic violence, and intentional/deliberate delaying is emotional abuse and almost as bad. I know a good marriage counselor. PM me for details. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-and-traffic/628155/51 "2012-07-16T17:52:52Z")
We’ve not had that argument. Mrs. Plant v.3.0 has a GPS on her phone. We used it to go somewhere in Memphis. “Turn right in 300 feet” “Turn right NOW” “BACK UP, G-DDAMMIT, BACK UP!” ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-and-traffic/628155/52 "2012-07-16T18:25:16Z")
> [@neuroman](#): > > Your marriage may be shakier than you think. **Swearing is basically domestic violence, and intentional/deliberate delaying is emotional abuse** and almost as bad. I know a good marriage counselor. PM me for details. What? He’s not swearing _at_ _her_, and I highly doubt she is _deliberately_ delaying just to piss him off. Jeez Louise, domestic violence and emotional abuse? That’s crazy talk. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-and-traffic/628155/53 "2012-07-16T18:46:48Z")
I think I see another whoosh (at least I hope so). ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-and-traffic/628155/54 "2012-07-16T19:05:32Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I think it would have been funnier if you had ended it with, “AAAAAAAAaaaaaaa…” 😃 And then we’d had to have the who stupid conversation: ARTHUR: Look, if he was dying, he wouldn’t bother to carve ‘aaggggh’. He’d just say it! MAYNARD: Well, that’s what’s carved in the rock! GALAHAD: Perhaps he was dictating. ARTHUR: Oh, shut up. Well, does it say anything else? MAYNARD: No. Just, ‘uuggggggh’. LAUNCELOT: Aauuggghhh. KNIGHT: Aaauggh. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-and-traffic/628155/55 "2012-07-16T19:57:45Z")
> [@neuroman](#): > > Your marriage may be shakier than you think. Swearing is basically domestic violence, and intentional/deliberate delaying is emotional abuse and almost as bad. I know a good marriage counselor. PM me for details. If you’re not joking, you’re a complete fucking idiot. There’s some domestic violence for you, douchebag. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-and-traffic/628155/56 "2012-07-16T21:08:41Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > I’m glad you weren’t in the car with her. I’ve witnessed that kind of conversation many times… “should I use A, or B?” “A, B is broken/needs washing/whatever” “OK, I’ll use B” “… ehrm, excuse me, may I ask why do you ask me if you’re just going to do what ever you feel like it? And may I ask why are you using B, which is clearly and visibly broken?” “Oh but I didn’t know it was broken! Oh! Ooooooh, so that’s why it doesn’t work!” “_refrains from killing the other party_” She will beg you for advice Your reply will be concise And she’ll listen very nicely, then go out and do precisely what she wants! – My Fair Lady ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-and-traffic/628155/57 "2012-07-16T21:39:46Z")
Some day in the future, we will all look upon swearing in a marriage with the same disdain at which we now look upon wife beating. Until that enlightened day comes to fruition, I suppose we’ll just have to make do. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-and-traffic/628155/58 "2012-07-16T21:54:55Z")
> [@neuroman](#): > > Some day in the future, we will all look upon swearing in a marriage with the same disdain at which we now look upon wife beating. Until that enlightened day comes to fruition, I suppose we’ll just have to make do. There’s a [town in Massachusetts](http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/06/13/middleborough_profanity_ban_touches_a_nerve/) you might consider moving to. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2012, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-and-traffic/628155/59 "2012-07-16T22:29:48Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > When that facebook account changes to “single” I am so… > > thats honestly just a joke, don’t get excited (or freaked out for that matter) 🙂 I choose to be flattered anyway. > [@neuroman](#): > > Your marriage may be shakier than you think. Swearing is basically domestic violence, and intentional/deliberate delaying is emotional abuse and almost as bad. I know a good marriage counselor. PM me for details. I choose to believe this is a whoosh. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2012, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-and-traffic/628155/60 "2012-08-01T19:57:17Z")
I don’t know if this applies in the case of the OP’s wife, but there are people who just will not use any kind of GPS device while driving. When driving to a new and unfamiliar address, they take a perverse pride in batting their eyes around at house numbers and street sign block numbers, to make sure they haven’t passed their destination. Why that’s better than having the Magellan tell you where to turn while you focus on the driving is beyond me. WRT smart phone based apps, it’s been my unfortunate experience that the 3G network is often too slow to give turn-by-turn directions in real time. But my Magellan has almost always worked fine. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-and-traffic/628155.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wife-and-traffic/628155.md?page=4)